Wis. Senate To Vote On Aviation Sales Tax Break

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The Wisconsin state Senate plans to vote on a bill that would exempt aviation companies in Wisconsin from having to pay sales taxes on aircraft maintenance parts and labor.

The Senate was scheduled to vote Tuesday on the bipartisan bill.

It would benefit companies like Gulfstream in Appleton and Cessna in Milwaukee. Those companies and others say having to pay the sales tax puts them at a competitive disadvantage because aircraft owners are taking their business to other states that don't charge the tax.

Bill sponsor Sen. Mike Ellis, a Republican from Neenah, says the tax cut would cost about $3 million a year in lost revenue, but it would generate more than twice that much in increased business for the aviation companies.